CARSON, Calif. (Feb. 15, 2015) – The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team defeated Japan, 3-1, on goals from Ashley Sanchez, Emina Ekic and Briana Pinto to sweep all three matches and win the 2015 U-17 Women’s NTC Invitational.

The USA also defeated Mexico (3-1) and Canada (2-0) and out-scored its three opponents in the competition by an 8-2 margin. Coming into the match the USA needed a victory to win the tournament as Japan had the edge on goal difference. After a tense but scoreless first half, it was Sanchez who broke the deadlock.

The SoCal Blues midfielder, who scored in every match and totaled five goals during the tournament, got on the end of an Alex Spaanstra cross in the 53rd minute, beating her defender to the ball to knock it home.

Ekic made it 2-0 in the 61st minute, latching onto a deflection at the top of six-yard box before spinning a defender and finishing low and hard past the diving goalkeeper.

Japan pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute on a penalty kick by Remina Chiba after she was fouled in the box to keep the game tight. But, USA substitute Pinto iced the match with nine minutes left, two minutes after she had entered the game. The goal came when Sydney Zandi beat a defender down the left side and played a cross to Pinto at the top of the penalty area. Pinto’s touch was a bit heavy but she was able to collect the ball, round her defender and finish high into the right side of the net.

At last year’s NTC Invitational, the USA defeated Japan 2-1 to take the tournament title. Japan then went on to win the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

This group of players, born in 1999 and 2000, are working to qualify for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The age cut-off for that tournament is players born on or after Jan. 1, 1999.

CARSON, California (Feb. 13, 2015) –The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team got late scores from Emina Ekic and Ashley Sanchez to defeat
Canada 2-0 and earn its second win in as many games at the 2015 U-17 Women’s NTC Invitational. Japan defeated Mexico 2-0 in the earlier match.

As the USA and Japan have both won their first two matches, the tournament finale between the two teams on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 4 p.m. PT, will be for the
championship. Japan owns a superior goal differential (plus-10), and needs just a tie to take the tournament title while the U.S. (plus-4 goal
differential) needs a victory. Canada meets Mexico at 1 p.m. PT on Feb. 15 for third place. All the matches are being played on the Glen “Mooch” Myernick
Field at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center and can be watched live on ussoccer.com.

Canada kept the USA off the board until the 79th minute when Kiara Pickett picked up her third assist of the tournament. Pickett played a hard pass on the
ground into the penalty area to Ekic who collected, beat a defender inside the goal box and then finished smartly to give the USA the 1-0 lead. It was
Ekic’s first international goal.

Sanchez, who scored a hat trick against Mexico last Friday, added a stoppage-time score to clinch the victory. The goal in the first minute of second-half
stoppage time came off an assist from Frankie Tagliaferri, who also set up Sanchez’s third goal against Mexico. Sanchez beat two players on the dribble
before finishing into the upper right corner. It was her 10th international goal at the U-17 level. Brooke Bollinger picked up the shutout in goal for the
USA, going the full 90 minutes.

At this tournament last year, the USA defeated Japan 2-1 to take the tournament title. Japan then went on to win the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

This group of players, born in 1999 and 2000, are working to qualify for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The age cutoff for that tournament is
players born on or after Jan. 1, 1999.

CARSON, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2015) – The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team opened the 2015 U-17 Women’s NTC Invitational with a 3-1 victory against Mexico as midfielder Ashley Sanchez scored all three goals. The four-team tournament also features Japan and Canada.

The USA currently sits in second place in the round-robin competition as Japan thrashed Canada 8-0 in the first match of the opening match day.

The tournament continues on Friday, Feb. 13, with the USA facing Canada at 6 p.m. PT, while Mexico meets Japan at 3 p.m. PT. The third and final match day takes place on Sunday, Feb. 15, with the USA taking on Japan at 4 p.m. PT, and Canada meeting Mexico at 1 p.m. PT. All the matches are being played on the Glen “Mooch” Myernick Field at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center and can be watched live on ussoccer.com.

Sanchez registered the third international hat trick of her U-17 career. She previously pounded in three goals in consecutive games against the Korea Republic in Mokpo last fall.

Sanchez opened the scoring in the 14th minute when she beats two defenders along the top of the penalty box and finished high into the left side of the net just out of the goalkeeper’s reach.

It took the SoCal Blues midfielder just two more minutes to double the lead as Kiara Pickett sent a through ball behind the Mexican defense. Sanchez took a touch and then finished to make it 2-0.

Mexico pulled a goal back in the 22nd minute off a direct free kick as Alexia Delgado shot from outside the box on the left side, sending the ball over the U.S. wall and high into the left corner.

Sanchez sealed the match in the 76th minute with a run that originated from the center-circle. She got behind the Mexican defense and finished low and hard into the right corner.

This group of players, born in 1999 and 2000, are working to qualify for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The age cut-off for that tournament is players born on or after Jan. 1, 1999.

CHICAGO (January 27, 2015) – For the second consecutive year, U.S. Soccer will host a four-team Under-17 women’s international tournament at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, California. This year’s event will run from Feb 11-15 as the USA will host Japan, Mexico and Canada in the 2015 U-17 Women’s NTC Invitational. All the matches will be staged on Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field at the U.S. Soccer NTC.

Each of the match days - February 11, 13 and 15 – will feature a doubleheader with the USA playing the second game of the day. The winner of the competition will be based on total points with the first two tie-breakers being overall goal difference and then total goals scored. Admission to the matches is free to the public, as is parking. All six matches of the tournament will be shown live on ussoccer.com.

Date

Teams

Kickoff (PT)

Location (U.S. Soccer NTC at StubHub Center)

Wed., Feb 11

Japan vs. Canada

3 p.m.

Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field – Field #1

Wed., Feb 11

USA vs. Mexico

6 p.m.

Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field – Field #1

Fri., Feb. 13

Mexico vs. Japan

3 p.m.

Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field – Field #1

Fri., Feb. 13

USA vs. Canada

6 p.m.

Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field – Field #1

Sun., Feb. 15

Canada vs. Mexico

1 p.m.

Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field – Field #1

Sun. Feb. 15

USA vs. Japan

4 p.m.

Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field – Field #1

At last year’s event, the USA defeated China PR, 4-0, New Zealand, 2-0, and Japan 2-1 to win the competition. Japan went on to win the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica later that summer.

“We feel very fortunate that U.S. Soccer has given us another opportunity to host one of the top international tournaments in the world for this age group,” said U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team head coach B.J. Snow. “The inaugural event last year was a huge success and for the women’s game to continue to grow it’s critical that we provide a platform for our players to play against the best international competition at a younger age.”

Snow has called in 21 players for the tournament, 15 born in 1999 – which is the age cut-off for the next U-17 Women’s World Cup – and six born in 2000.

“At this point in the cycle we want to continuously asses both individual player development and team development,” said Snow. “There is no better way to accomplish this than to compete against highly sophisticated and organized teams in a tournament environment. This should give us a great indication of where we are as team with a little over a year left before World Cup Qualifying.”

The 2016 U-17 Women’s CONCACAF Championship tournament, slated for March of next year, will qualify three teams from the confederation for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup that is scheduled to take place in Jordan.

Each team is allowed 21 players on its NTC Invitational tournament roster.

Teams will be allowed six total substitutions per game with no re-entry. In the second half of the matches, a team may stop the game a maximum of three times to make substitutions. During each of these stoppages, a team may make more than one substitution, up to the limit of the six total per match.

Substitutions made at halftime do not count as a stoppage in the second half.

Players eligible for the 2015 U-17 Women’s NTC Invitational must have been born on or after Jan. 1, 1999, which is the age cut-off for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

There will be no suspensions for accumulation of yellow cards during the tournament, but a player receiving a red card will have to sit out a minimum of one match.

If two or more teams are equal on goal difference and goals scored, the ties will be broken as follow: 1) greatest number of points obtained in the matches between the teams concerned; 2) goal difference resulting from the matches between the teams concerned; 3) greater number of goals scored in the matches between the teams concerned; 4) drawing of lots by the U-17 Women's NTC Invitational Tournament Committee.

CHICAGO (Dec. 31, 2014) – U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team head coach B.J. Snow has named 24 players for a training camp running from Jan. 3-10 in
Lakeland Ranch, Florida, which will kick off the 2015 programming for this age group.

The camp features 16 players born 1999 and eight born in 2000. The age cut-off for the next FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2016, which is currently
scheduled to be played in Jordan, is for players born on or after Jan. 1, 1999.

CHICAGO (Dec. 1, 2014) – Sixteen goalkeepers ranging in age from 14-18 have been called up for a special four-day Women’s Youth National Team Goalkeeper Camp being held from Dec. 14-17 at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

This is the second camp of this kind held by the U.S. Soccer women’s technical staff with the goal of bringing in a larger group of goalkeepers from the Under-20 and Under-17 levels to evaluate the technical, biomechanical, psychological, social and physical attributes for long-term development of the top goalkeepers in the Youth National Team player pools. Six of the goalkeepers are in college with the other 10 are playing for youth clubs across the country.

Long-time U.S. Soccer goalkeeper coach Phil Wheddon will head up the camp that will also be attended by U.S. Soccer Women’s Technical Director April Heinrichs, U-20 Women’s National Team head coach Michelle French, U-17 Women’s National Team head coach B.J. Snow and three goalkeeper coaches who have all worked extensively with the USA’s youth teams: Graeme Abel, Phil Poole and Siri Mullinix.

CHICAGO (Oct. 23, 2014) – U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team head coach B.J. Snow has named 25 players for a training camp running from Nov. 1-8 at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, Calif. in the second domestic event of this cycle.

The U-17s are coming off a highly successful trip to the Korea Republic at the end of August/beginning of September in which they earned two convincing victories against the hosts.

This U-17 camp, which features mostly players born 1999 and a few in 2000, will run concurrently with the U.S. Under-15 Girls’ National Team camp, which features players mostly born 2000 and a few in 2001.

The age cut-off for the next U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2016, which is currently scheduled to be played in Jordan, is for players born on or after Jan. 1, 1999.

CARSON, Calif. (Feb. 15, 2015) – The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team defeated Japan, 3-1, on goals from Ashley Sanchez, Emina Ekic and Briana Pinto to sweep all three matches and win the 2015 U-17 Women’s NTC Invitational.

The USA also defeated Mexico (3-1) and Canada (2-0) and out-scored its three opponents in the competition by an 8-2 margin. Coming into the match the USA needed a victory to win the tournament as Japan had the edge on goal difference. After a tense but scoreless first half, it was Sanchez who broke the deadlock.

The SoCal Blues midfielder, who scored in every match and totaled five goals during the tournament, got on the end of an Alex Spaanstra cross in the 53rd minute, beating her defender to the ball to knock it home.

Ekic made it 2-0 in the 61st minute, latching onto a deflection at the top of six-yard box before spinning a defender and finishing low and hard past the diving goalkeeper.

Japan pulled a goal back in the 72nd minute on a penalty kick by Remina Chiba after she was fouled in the box to keep the game tight. But, USA substitute Pinto iced the match with nine minutes left, two minutes after she had entered the game. The goal came when Sydney Zandi beat a defender down the left side and played a cross to Pinto at the top of the penalty area. Pinto’s touch was a bit heavy but she was able to collect the ball, round her defender and finish high into the right side of the net.

At last year’s NTC Invitational, the USA defeated Japan 2-1 to take the tournament title. Japan then went on to win the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

This group of players, born in 1999 and 2000, are working to qualify for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The age cut-off for that tournament is players born on or after Jan. 1, 1999.

CARSON, California (Feb. 13, 2015) –The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team got late scores from Emina Ekic and Ashley Sanchez to defeat
Canada 2-0 and earn its second win in as many games at the 2015 U-17 Women’s NTC Invitational. Japan defeated Mexico 2-0 in the earlier match.

As the USA and Japan have both won their first two matches, the tournament finale between the two teams on Sunday, Feb. 15, at 4 p.m. PT, will be for the
championship. Japan owns a superior goal differential (plus-10), and needs just a tie to take the tournament title while the U.S. (plus-4 goal
differential) needs a victory. Canada meets Mexico at 1 p.m. PT on Feb. 15 for third place. All the matches are being played on the Glen “Mooch” Myernick
Field at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center and can be watched live on ussoccer.com.

Canada kept the USA off the board until the 79th minute when Kiara Pickett picked up her third assist of the tournament. Pickett played a hard pass on the
ground into the penalty area to Ekic who collected, beat a defender inside the goal box and then finished smartly to give the USA the 1-0 lead. It was
Ekic’s first international goal.

Sanchez, who scored a hat trick against Mexico last Friday, added a stoppage-time score to clinch the victory. The goal in the first minute of second-half
stoppage time came off an assist from Frankie Tagliaferri, who also set up Sanchez’s third goal against Mexico. Sanchez beat two players on the dribble
before finishing into the upper right corner. It was her 10th international goal at the U-17 level. Brooke Bollinger picked up the shutout in goal for the
USA, going the full 90 minutes.

At this tournament last year, the USA defeated Japan 2-1 to take the tournament title. Japan then went on to win the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

This group of players, born in 1999 and 2000, are working to qualify for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The age cutoff for that tournament is
players born on or after Jan. 1, 1999.

CARSON, Calif. (Feb. 11, 2015) – The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team opened the 2015 U-17 Women’s NTC Invitational with a 3-1 victory against Mexico as midfielder Ashley Sanchez scored all three goals. The four-team tournament also features Japan and Canada.

The USA currently sits in second place in the round-robin competition as Japan thrashed Canada 8-0 in the first match of the opening match day.

The tournament continues on Friday, Feb. 13, with the USA facing Canada at 6 p.m. PT, while Mexico meets Japan at 3 p.m. PT. The third and final match day takes place on Sunday, Feb. 15, with the USA taking on Japan at 4 p.m. PT, and Canada meeting Mexico at 1 p.m. PT. All the matches are being played on the Glen “Mooch” Myernick Field at U.S. Soccer’s National Training Center and can be watched live on ussoccer.com.

Sanchez registered the third international hat trick of her U-17 career. She previously pounded in three goals in consecutive games against the Korea Republic in Mokpo last fall.

Sanchez opened the scoring in the 14th minute when she beats two defenders along the top of the penalty box and finished high into the left side of the net just out of the goalkeeper’s reach.

It took the SoCal Blues midfielder just two more minutes to double the lead as Kiara Pickett sent a through ball behind the Mexican defense. Sanchez took a touch and then finished to make it 2-0.

Mexico pulled a goal back in the 22nd minute off a direct free kick as Alexia Delgado shot from outside the box on the left side, sending the ball over the U.S. wall and high into the left corner.

Sanchez sealed the match in the 76th minute with a run that originated from the center-circle. She got behind the Mexican defense and finished low and hard into the right corner.

This group of players, born in 1999 and 2000, are working to qualify for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup. The age cut-off for that tournament is players born on or after Jan. 1, 1999.

CHICAGO (January 27, 2015) – For the second consecutive year, U.S. Soccer will host a four-team Under-17 women’s international tournament at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, California. This year’s event will run from Feb 11-15 as the USA will host Japan, Mexico and Canada in the 2015 U-17 Women’s NTC Invitational. All the matches will be staged on Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field at the U.S. Soccer NTC.

Each of the match days - February 11, 13 and 15 – will feature a doubleheader with the USA playing the second game of the day. The winner of the competition will be based on total points with the first two tie-breakers being overall goal difference and then total goals scored. Admission to the matches is free to the public, as is parking. All six matches of the tournament will be shown live on ussoccer.com.

Date

Teams

Kickoff (PT)

Location (U.S. Soccer NTC at StubHub Center)

Wed., Feb 11

Japan vs. Canada

3 p.m.

Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field – Field #1

Wed., Feb 11

USA vs. Mexico

6 p.m.

Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field – Field #1

Fri., Feb. 13

Mexico vs. Japan

3 p.m.

Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field – Field #1

Fri., Feb. 13

USA vs. Canada

6 p.m.

Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field – Field #1

Sun., Feb. 15

Canada vs. Mexico

1 p.m.

Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field – Field #1

Sun. Feb. 15

USA vs. Japan

4 p.m.

Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field – Field #1

At last year’s event, the USA defeated China PR, 4-0, New Zealand, 2-0, and Japan 2-1 to win the competition. Japan went on to win the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica later that summer.

“We feel very fortunate that U.S. Soccer has given us another opportunity to host one of the top international tournaments in the world for this age group,” said U.S. U-17 Women’s National Team head coach B.J. Snow. “The inaugural event last year was a huge success and for the women’s game to continue to grow it’s critical that we provide a platform for our players to play against the best international competition at a younger age.”

Snow has called in 21 players for the tournament, 15 born in 1999 – which is the age cut-off for the next U-17 Women’s World Cup – and six born in 2000.

“At this point in the cycle we want to continuously asses both individual player development and team development,” said Snow. “There is no better way to accomplish this than to compete against highly sophisticated and organized teams in a tournament environment. This should give us a great indication of where we are as team with a little over a year left before World Cup Qualifying.”

The 2016 U-17 Women’s CONCACAF Championship tournament, slated for March of next year, will qualify three teams from the confederation for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup that is scheduled to take place in Jordan.

Each team is allowed 21 players on its NTC Invitational tournament roster.

Teams will be allowed six total substitutions per game with no re-entry. In the second half of the matches, a team may stop the game a maximum of three times to make substitutions. During each of these stoppages, a team may make more than one substitution, up to the limit of the six total per match.

Substitutions made at halftime do not count as a stoppage in the second half.

Players eligible for the 2015 U-17 Women’s NTC Invitational must have been born on or after Jan. 1, 1999, which is the age cut-off for the 2016 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.

There will be no suspensions for accumulation of yellow cards during the tournament, but a player receiving a red card will have to sit out a minimum of one match.

If two or more teams are equal on goal difference and goals scored, the ties will be broken as follow: 1) greatest number of points obtained in the matches between the teams concerned; 2) goal difference resulting from the matches between the teams concerned; 3) greater number of goals scored in the matches between the teams concerned; 4) drawing of lots by the U-17 Women's NTC Invitational Tournament Committee.

CHICAGO (Dec. 31, 2014) – U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team head coach B.J. Snow has named 24 players for a training camp running from Jan. 3-10 in
Lakeland Ranch, Florida, which will kick off the 2015 programming for this age group.

The camp features 16 players born 1999 and eight born in 2000. The age cut-off for the next FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2016, which is currently
scheduled to be played in Jordan, is for players born on or after Jan. 1, 1999.

CHICAGO (Dec. 1, 2014) – Sixteen goalkeepers ranging in age from 14-18 have been called up for a special four-day Women’s Youth National Team Goalkeeper Camp being held from Dec. 14-17 at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.

This is the second camp of this kind held by the U.S. Soccer women’s technical staff with the goal of bringing in a larger group of goalkeepers from the Under-20 and Under-17 levels to evaluate the technical, biomechanical, psychological, social and physical attributes for long-term development of the top goalkeepers in the Youth National Team player pools. Six of the goalkeepers are in college with the other 10 are playing for youth clubs across the country.

Long-time U.S. Soccer goalkeeper coach Phil Wheddon will head up the camp that will also be attended by U.S. Soccer Women’s Technical Director April Heinrichs, U-20 Women’s National Team head coach Michelle French, U-17 Women’s National Team head coach B.J. Snow and three goalkeeper coaches who have all worked extensively with the USA’s youth teams: Graeme Abel, Phil Poole and Siri Mullinix.

CHICAGO (Oct. 23, 2014) – U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team head coach B.J. Snow has named 25 players for a training camp running from Nov. 1-8 at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, Calif. in the second domestic event of this cycle.

The U-17s are coming off a highly successful trip to the Korea Republic at the end of August/beginning of September in which they earned two convincing victories against the hosts.

This U-17 camp, which features mostly players born 1999 and a few in 2000, will run concurrently with the U.S. Under-15 Girls’ National Team camp, which features players mostly born 2000 and a few in 2001.

The age cut-off for the next U-17 Women’s World Cup in 2016, which is currently scheduled to be played in Jordan, is for players born on or after Jan. 1, 1999.

The U.S. U-17 WNT came from behind to defeat Japan 2-1 in the final game of the 2014 U-17 Women's NTC Invitational. Head coach B.J. Snow, forward Mallory Pugh, midfielder Taylor Racioppi, defender Ellie Jean, and defender Natalie Jacobs talk about winning the tournament and playing the last game of this current U-17 WNT cycle.

The U.S. U-17 WNT defeated New Zealand 2-0 in its second game of the 2014 U-17 Women's NTC Invitational. Head coach B.J. Snow, midfielder Marley Canales, and midfielder Ashley Sanchez talk about the win which gave the Americans the tournament lead heading into the final game against Japan on Feb. 9.

Some of the best young female soccer players in the world will show their talents as the USA hosts the 2014 U-17 Women’s NTC Invitational, featuring Japan, China and New Zealand. U.S. head coach B.J. Snow previews the tournament that will see three dates of double-headers on Feb. 5, 7 and 9, all on the Glenn “Mooch” Myernick Field at the U.S. Soccer National Training Center in Carson, Calif.

Forward Kelcie Hedge hails from an unlikely locale for a U.S. youth National Team player: Post Falls, Idaho. While the sport is surely growing in states that don't traditionally produce U.S. Women's National Team players, Hedge is the first player from Idaho to represent the USA in an official competition. She talks about her hometown, her home state and traveling to Washington for club soccer, which involves a four and a half hour drive or sometimes a flight.

The U.S. Under-17 Women’s National Team rebounded from a crushing penalty kick loss to Mexico in the semifinal of the CONCACAF U-17 Women’s Championship with a dominating 8-0 victory against Jamaica to take third place in the tournament.

The U.S. U-17 WNT fell 2-4 in penalties after playing Mexico to a 1-1 tie in regulation at the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Women's Championship in Montego Bay, Jamaica. The result leaves the U.S. out of the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup.

The U.S. U-17 WNT will face Mexico on Thurs., Nov. 7 in the semifinal of the CONCACAF Women's U-17 Championship with a berth to the 2014 FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup on the line. U.S. head coach B.J. Snow, defender Tegan McGrady, forward Maddy Schultz, and defender Natalie Jacobs preview the match and talk about the tournament so far.

U.S. U-17 goalkeeper Lauren Rood was a gymnast as a child, an (inadvertent) stunt bicycle rider, would LOVE to play free safety in football and really wants to know exactly what's going on all the time. Here are 10 things you may not know about the high school sophomore from Washington state.

The U.S. U-17 WNT defeated Canada 2-0 in the final group match of the 2013 CONCACAF U-17 Women’s Championship. U.S. head coach B.J. Snow, midfielder Marley Canales, defender Ellie Jean and forward Zoe Redei, who had a goal and an assist, react to the victory that clinched first place in Group B and set up a match-up with Mexico in the semifinal on Nov. 7.